A University of Lethbridge initiative aims to make a big impact on local students. The U of L’s annual ‘Giving Tuesday’ campaign, ‘Buy a Student a Breakfast, is underway.
Learners at the post-secondary’s Lethbridge and Calgary campuses can pick up coupons purchased by thoughtful supporters.
A pledge of $6 buys a coupon, which students can redeem for one breakfast sandwich and a piece of fruit at the Lethbridge campus’ Urban Market, or a breakfast sandwich with a small coffee or tea at the Tim Hortons in the Centre for Sport and Wellness.
Students at the U of L Calgary campus will receive a Tim Hortons gift card.
“Thanks to the generosity of our alumni and community supporters, we were able to purchase 1,037 breakfasts for students last year,” says the U of L’s Alumni Association president Cyndi Crane. “I’m really looking forward to handing out coupons Wednesday [December 4], along with many other alumni and supporters from the community. I remember as a student how stressful it can get at this time of year.”
Officials say that food security for students has been an ongoing issue in recent years and as food prices continue to go up, so too has the financial pressure on learners.
“It might not sound like much — one free meal — but it’s so much more than the $6 pledge, rather it’s an acknowledgement that they are part of a community that values their well-being and wants to see them flourish and succeed,” adds Crane.
The campaign has been collecting donations in advance of ‘Giving Tuesday’ on December 3, so alumni and community volunteers would be ready to start giving out coupons this week. This gives students more time to redeem the gifts before the end of the semester.
Donations and encouraging messages for students can be submitted online.
